I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like. Think of this as Art Appreciation 101, but only studying one artist: the prolific and talented Robert McGinnis. His paintings grace tons of books I own. For those who are fans, I highly recommend his art book: PAPERBACK COVERS OF ROBERT MCGINNIS, which is a wealth of info. Now, there are two authors missing from this little tribute whom McGinnis worked with a bunch: Richard Prather and Brett Halliday – the latter because I just was not in the mood to read more Mike Shayne.

SOME WOMEN WON’T WAIT by Erle Stanley Gardner – First up is a gorgeous cover prominently featured in the McGinnis art book. We’re talking its own page without any pesky type. Anyway, you know what’s been lacking in my column? Blackmail. So let’s get that corrected with another in the long list of Cool/Lam mysteries.

In this 1953 novel, our favorite pair of detectives is called upon by man named Bicknell who wants things done a certain way: that of Bertha being the investigator, with Donald pretty much sitting out. But you know that’s not going to happen. His name is Bicknell and he’s worried about his former partner’s widow, a young woman who likes to live life and needs someone to watch out for her.

The first problem is that she lives in Hawaii, and Bicknell wants Bertha to go by ship. But Bertha wants nothing of this, since Bicknell is putting so many restrictions on the way the case is run. Bertha succumbs because she wants the big retainer check. As they are ready to set sail, she pulls a fast one on Donald, who pretty much gets shanghaied into traveling with them.

The bride is being blackmailed, but she is not the only one getting the squeeze. Her friend and fellow passenger also has some letters that she does not want published. If this was just the case, then it could have been solved easily, but of course, there is a kicker once they arrive on the island: The blackmailer is found dead with a bullet in his head.

Yes, it’s another fun time with Gardner’s twosome, who I actually enjoy more than his Perry Mason. Maybe because it’s not weighted down by the court atmosphere. SOME WOMEN is a highly enjoyable read from a man who never lets the cat out of the bag until those precious last few pages.

ASSIGNMENT SORRENTO SIREN by Edward S. Aarons – Second on the plate is one of the many covers McGinnis would do for the ASSIGNMENT series, but sadly this 1963 installment is one of Aarons’ weaker efforts.

Sam Durrell is called up to find a rogue agent who ran off with some government’s priceless paintings. That’s pretty much the whole plot of this story. But there are a few additions to it, like why the agent does it and the insurance he takes out to protect himself – namely, a list of all the Eastern European agents working the Iron Curtain. Then there is the count and his American bride, who has the rogue agent tied around her finger, with a few betrayals thrown into the mix.

For a spy series entry, SIREN felt like a low-rent mystery more times than not, with a really slow buildup and so little payoff. There were points where I just wanted to stop and be done with it. There is nothing here really to grab the reader. Luckily, there are many more ASSIGNMENTs out there. Hey, they all can’t be winners.

THE HONG KONG CAPER by Carter Brown – Closing out this tribute to McGinnis would not be complete without a mention of Carter Brown, since most of his output was painted by McG. This 1962 book introduces us to another on the long list of never-ending characters Brown has cooked up.
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This time, it’s all about Andy Kane, an American who runs a shady business in Hong Kong – the type that’s not really illegal, but also not really welcome. Kane has on his hands two women who seem to be after the same thing: a sunken treasure in the form of a million dollars. The problem is that it’s 12 feet down in the ocean, right in the Chinese bay. A former pilot ditched the money after the war and a secret group of criminals called the Brothers of the Golden Lily tries to get in on the deal at every turn.

Like all other Brown novels, this is fun and breezy with an exotic locale as the background. It’s just one big pirate-type adventure set in the early ’60s, with plenty of double-dealing, a red herring or two, and a great kicker of a surprise at the end. For some guilty fun while at the beach, grab this adventure. By the time you have to go home, you’ll probably be done.

Next time: a whole lotta testosterone! –Bruce Grossman

Buy it at Amazon.

OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THESE AUTHORS:
• ASSIGNMENT BANGKOK by Edward S. Aarons
• ASSIGNMENT BURMA GIRL by Edward S. Aarons
• ASSIGNMENT SCHOOL FOR SPIES by Edward S. Aarons
• THE BIGGER THEY COME by Erle Stanley Gardner
• THE CASE OF THE HESITANT HOSTESS by Erle Stanley Gardner
• THE CASEBOOK OF SIDNEY ZOOM by Erle Stanley Gardner
• THE CLOWN by Carter Brown
• CROWS CAN’T COUNT by Erle Stanley Gardner
• THE EVER-LOVING BLUES by Carter Brown
• MURDER IS A PACKAGE DEAL by Carter Brown
• THE NEVER-WAS GIRL by Carter Brown
• SOME SLIPS DON’T SHOW by Erle Stanley Gardner
• TRY ANYTHING ONCE by Erle Stanley Gardner
• THE WANTON by Carter Brown